by Tori Carson
“She’s a sweet girl. You shouldn’t have played with her feelings like this. It was bound to blow up in your face.”
“Are you done rehashing the obvious?” Brett wanted to punch something.
“I’ll drive Angela home tonight. I suggest you give her some time to think it through. She’s a smart girl; she’ll eventually figure out why you misled her. If you’re lucky, she’ll give you another chance.” Sean stood.
The last thing Brett wanted to do was leave Angela alone, but bullying her would only make the situation worse. Sean put a hand on his shoulder and led him to the back exit. “Give her the night to think it through. I promise, Brett, I’ll get her home safely. Get out of here and let things calm down.”
“Don’t let her scene, Sean. She’s not thinking clearly.” Brett stared him down. He couldn’t get past her look of disgust as she pulled away from him.
“Oh hell, no. She’s going directly home.” Sean held out his hand.
Brett shook it. “Thank you.”
It didn’t matter what she’d said to Brett, she was still disappointed when Sean came through the door alone. She wouldn’t have left with Brett or even talked to him, but she still wanted to see him. And that was fucked up.
“Let Sean take you home, honey. Don’t do anything rash. Things may look different in the morning.” Michelle patted her hand.
“I can call a cab, Sean. You don’t have to do this.” Angela gave him an out in case he had other things to do.
“I need to pick up our dinner anyway. Are you ready to go? Do you need anything from the locker room?” Sean asked, after leaning in and kissing Michelle on the cheek.
“No, I didn’t get that far.” Angela knew her laugh was harsh, but she felt brittle so why shouldn’t she sound that way too?
“I’m parked out here.” Sean pointed in the direction of his office. “Let’s go through the back.”
“Thanks for the shoulder to cry on, Michelle. I appreciate it.” Angela slid off the stool and followed Sean.
“Any time.” Michelle waved.
In the parking lot, Sean opened the passenger door and held the seatbelt within reach for her. Chivalry must be a Dom thing, Angela decided.
Even though it was a warm evening, Angela felt cold and empty. She couldn’t imagine crawling into bed alone. She tipped her head up, hoping that would help keep the tears from rolling down her face.
“Do you want to talk?” Sean asked.
“No.” Angela looked out the side window.
Sean chuckled. “Well you two have at least one thing in common,” he muttered to himself. “Angela, I need to know what happened. If Brett lied to you, I need to revoke his membership.”
“Don’t do that. It wasn’t a harmful lie.” Why was she defending him? Angela realized she was holding on to his collar and immediately pulled her hand onto her lap.
“If you’re willing to throw away your relationship with him, I’d say it was indeed harmful.” Sean’s voice was firm and brooked no leeway. “Now tell me what happened.”
Sean was only trying to keep the other subs safe. She owed him some kind of explanation. “He let me believe he was just a regular person, a mid-level manager in his own company.” She blinked quickly and swallowed a few times to make sure she sounded as normal as possible.
“So the unforgiveable crime he’s accused of is—as a multimillionaire, he neglected to fully disclose his net worth to a woman he hoped to date. Am I missing something?”
When he put it like that, it sounded ridiculous, but there was so much more to it. “You don’t understand.”
“Then help me.” Sean pulled into the building’s parking garage, found a spot and shut off the car.
She didn’t think she could face going in the apartment alone and Sean was safe. He loved Michelle. “Would you like to come in for a minute? I don’t know what I’m going to do about the place. I signed a yearlong lease, but I can’t stay here now.”
Sean got out and walked to her side of the car as she tried to stand without embarrassing herself. The damn car was too low to the ground to be wearing a miniskirt.
“If you’d waited I would have helped you out. It’s what a gentleman does, Angela. Allow us the privilege, please.” Sean was clearly disappointed in her.
“I’m sorry, Sean. I’m not used to men being accommodating. Brett was the first man to treat me that way.”
“There’s another nail in his coffin… He treats a woman with respect. Definitely kick him to the curb.” He looked at her and smiled. “Tell me why not advising you of his financial situation is such a big deal. You’re a smart woman. You have to understand why he’s skittish about the subject.”
Angela directed him toward the elevator. “You know I was married before I moved here. He’s a banker down in Georgia.”
“Right. He’s a big fish in a little pond, from what I understand,” Sean answered, as they reached the third floor.
“He was a horrible person, Sean. He misused his position, his power and Brett knew that. He knew I was afraid to get into any relationship again and never would have considered one with a man even more powerful than my ex.” Damn it, the tears were back with a vengeance.
“Then I can understand why he wanted to give you time to learn to trust him before he gave you all the messy details of his life,” Sean reasoned.
“Learn to trust him by lying? How does that work, Sean?” Angela dug into her purse and pulled out the key to the apartment with her left hand. The key to his collar was burning a brand into the palm of her right and yet she couldn’t let it go.
“Did he out and out lie, Angela, or did he not correct an assumption you’d made?”
Angela led Sean into the living room while she thought back through their conversations. “I don’t know. It’s possible he walked a fine line, but, Sean, I never would have signed the lease on this place if I’d known he was the owner.”
“Why not? If you signed a lease, then everything is above board and by the law. Who cares who owns it? It looks like a damn fine place to me.”
“Sean, you’re being stubborn on purpose,” she complained.
“One of us is, but I’m not convinced it’s me. Is it possible you’re just scared?”
She stared at Sean, ready to defend her position, but in truth she was scared, scared to death.
“What’s in your hand?”
Slowly Angela straightened her fingers.
“Is that the key to your collar?” Sean asked with compassion.
She nodded.
“Don’t you think it says something that you haven’t removed it? You’ve clutched that key like it’s a lifeline and you keep touching the chain. Is it bothering you, or are you seeking reassurance that it’s still there?”
“Just stop, Sean, you’re killing me.” She closed her fingers around the key again. The idea of taking it off was too much to contemplate. Shit. She hadn’t even given Brett a chance to explain. She’d had one foot out the door all along.
A shrill ring from her purse had her jumping up. “Excuse me for just a moment.”
“Hi, Mom, is everything okay?” She didn’t want to be rude, but her mom never called.
“I don’t know, honey. A man came by today. He said he was an aide or something for Senator Griffith. He was asking questions about Ernie.”
Angela’s stomach turned. “Let me call you back.” Angela hung up and ran to the bathroom and threw up.
Sweat poured down her face and she began to shake but the cramps passed quickly. Sean handed her a washcloth.
“What’s going on?” Sean was watching her closely.
“Sean.” Angela couldn’t keep the tears from falling down her cheek. “Brett’s just as bad as Ernie. He’s using his connections to go after my ex. I can’t stay. I have to get out of here.”
Sean moved to block the doorway. “Settle down and tell me what happened.”
Angela grabbed a tissue and took several calming breathes. “My mom said a ma
n from Senator Griffith’s office came by the house asking questions about my ex.” She met Sean’s gaze and held it. “Brett orchestrated it. I know he did. The senator called him while we were at lunch. I saw his name pop up on Brett’s phone but didn’t make the connection. He left the table so I didn’t hear what was discussed, but he had to be setting this whole thing up. When he got back he said the call was about work. He lied about that too.”
“Why would Brett want your ex investigated? What would he stand to gain?”
Finally, Sean was beginning to see how important this was! “I can’t see what he’d gain by it, except just pure revenge. He’s flexing his muscles because he can.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“He said my ex needed his ass kicked and while I agree, Brett is just as bad as Ernie. He’s using his power to get what he wants.” Angela was crumbling inside. It was one thing to sidestep the truth where it wouldn’t actually hurt anyone and another to set out to destroy someone. She could never be with anyone who thought they were above common decency.
“Hold on, Angela. It sounds like your ex used any means possible to help himself. How does having your ex investigated benefit Brett?”
Angela didn’t have an answer for that.
“There are two sides to this. You said yourself your husband was a horrible person who abused his position. I believe that’s pretty close to your exact words, right?”
Angela nodded, a little leery of where this was leading. Was she being an idiot? Was she looking for an excuse to back out? “Yes.”
“Is it possible he’s trying to protect those who can’t protect themselves? You said Brett had nothing to gain. Did your ex hurt Brett or Brett’s business dealings?”
“No, Ernie doesn’t have that kind of reach. His reign of terror is pretty localized.” She chuckled at the overly dramatic language, but it wasn’t too far from the truth. “He couldn’t touch someone like Brett.”
“Therefore, it would take someone like Brett, someone willing to stick his neck out without any hope of a payoff, to bring this guy to justice. And if there was a revenge factor…wouldn’t it be over hurting you? While I would never condone a Dom misusing his power, I can understand the need to keep an abuser from hurting someone else.”
“Sean, how well do you know Brett?” She had to ask. She didn’t trust her own judgment anymore.
“We grew up in the same circles, but we weren’t buddies. He always went his own way. Very serious. I was a hell-raiser and always into trouble.” Sean laughed, obviously reliving a fond memory. “When his parents were alive, they did a lot of business with my parents. After the accident, he took over their company, merged it with his own and well, the rest is history. If you’re asking me if he likes to pull the wings off flies just because he can, the answer is no. Angela, he’s a standup guy.”
“What am I going to do?” She felt fragile. Ernie had hurt her, but Brett could destroy her. She’d felt more connected to Brett than she’d dreamed possible.
“Do you want me to call him? I know he’d come over. You guys can sit down and talk it through.”
That’s all Brett had asked of her at the club and she’d refused. She’d made a scene and pushed him away. She wasn’t so sure he’d just forgive her. “No. I need time to think this through and I need to call my mom back. I’m sure she’s worried.” She took a deep breath. It was time to be a big girl and stand on her own two feet. “Michelle is probably starving and wondering if you got lost.” She attempted a smile but gave up, knowing she couldn’t pull it off.
“Are you all right?” Sean was scrutinizing her.
Angela nodded. “I’ll be fine, Sean. Thank you for everything. You’ve been very kind.”
Sean gave her a hug and left.
Chapter Nine
Brett was leaning on his car debating whether to go up to Angela’s apartment when he saw Sean coming through the garage entrance.
“How is she? You were up there long enough,” Brett grumbled.
“You have bigger problems than you think, my friend,” Sean said solemnly.
“What are you talking about? What’s happened now?” Brett was torn between getting the information out of Sean and seeing Angela.
“You may be a papa later this year.” Sean smirked.
“What?!” Brett’s mind was whirling at the possibility. That was the last thing he’d expected to come out of Sean’s mouth. “Did she tell you that?” They’d had unprotected sex…
“No, the rushing into the bathroom and puking all over the place told me.”
“She’s sick?” Brett headed toward the building until Sean caught his arm and stopped him.
“Give her some time,” Sean advised. “She’s talking to her mom right now.”
“Demonizing me further, I’m sure. I doubt she’s pregnant. She said she was on the pill. Is she running a fever? Did she look sick?” She’d been fine at lunch and at the museum. Maybe it was food poisoning.
“What’s the matter? Not ready to be a dad, yet?”
“I’d be the happiest man in the world if she was pregnant, but I don’t think she’d run a scam like that. She’s had some pretty bad panic attacks. Maybe the stress got to her.” If she carried his baby, he doubted she’d cut and run. Right now that was his biggest fear.
“Could be, but that’s only part of the bad news. She knows you’re having her ex investigated. In fact, it was right after her mom called and told her that she lost her lunch…so to speak.”
“Oh fuck! She isn’t sick or pregnant. She’s terrified. You have no idea what that man did to her. I’m surprised she hasn’t left town already.” Brett took off at a dead run. “Thanks, Sean. I owe you one!” he shouted back before he entered the building. He didn’t have the patience to wait for the elevator. Instead, he took the stairs two at a time.
Hitting the third floor, he reached for decorum. It wouldn’t do to knock over some little old lady as he plowed down the hallway. At the end of the corridor, he rapped on her door.
“Angela, it’s Brett. Open up.” His heart was in his throat. He had no idea what he’d do if she refused. Listening intently, he couldn’t hear any sounds. He decided that was a good thing. If she were packing, he’d hear something.
He rested his forehead on the doorframe. “Baby, don’t shut me out. We need to talk.” In his mind, he waited eight, maybe ten years, but he finally heard the most beautiful sound—the deadbolt being turned.
When the door opened and he saw her tear-stained face he felt like the biggest asshole on the planet. “I’m so sorry, Angela.”
He watched her bottom lip quiver seconds before she launched into his arms. He held her tight, probably too tight, as he stepped into the apartment and kicked the door closed. Kissing her cheek, he wished he knew the words to make it all better. “I never meant to hurt you, baby. Can you forgive me?”
She took a deep breath and pushed away from him. The light glinted off his collar. Knowing she hadn’t taken it off gave him hope that his mistake was repairable.
“Let’s go sit down. We need to talk.” She grabbed a box of tissues from the sideboard as she walked past.
Brett wanted to touch her, to hold her but didn’t want to press his luck. He was trying to follow her lead. “Are you okay? Sean said you were ill.”
“Did he call you? I asked him not to.” Angela sounded annoyed.
“No, I didn’t want to be away from you. The tension between us is my fault, but I want you to hear my side of story. You’re too important to me to just walk away.” He sat on the couch a few inches away from her.
“Did he also tell you my mom called? She said someone from Senator Griffith’s office came by asking questions about Ernie. You’re behind that, aren’t you?” She pulled another tissue from the box and dabbed under her eyes.
He nodded. “Bob sits on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee. The sort of abusive tactics your ex has been using to extort the people in your town falls under his j
urisdiction. I was very careful how I explained the situation. I told him I was down there on business and started hearing rumors, nothing substantiated, but the locals warning me about him. Bob said he’d look into it. That’s the extent of my involvement. I have no influence at all over the investigation. If Bob finds evidence, then he’ll act on it. If the town chooses not to cooperate, then he’ll drop it.”
“Why would you do that? Don’t you understand I still have family and friends there? He’ll go after them.”
“Your friends and family need the opportunity to have their voices heard, to share their concerns with someone in a position to help them. Bob can do that. He takes his job very seriously. People like that don’t stop, Angela, until they’re made to stop. They don’t suddenly grow a conscience and become a town benefactor.” Brett had to make her see this wasn’t about him or even her. This was about everyone still living in that town and under the bastard’s thumb.
“So you basically tipped off the banking police?”
She was searching his face for what he wasn’t sure.
“In essence, yes. Angela, I know you’re angry with me, but it was the right thing to do.” She had to understand that. He would always fight for the underdog; it was just his nature.
“It never occurred to me there was an organization that could help.” She slumped back against the couch. “All those years.” She shook her head. “And the answer was right there in front of our faces.”
“Bob and I have known each other for a long time. I was able to cut through a lot of the bullshit.” He didn’t want her upset over something she couldn’t change.
She looked down at the space between them. “I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you for hearing me out and keeping an open mind.” He took her hand in the two of his.
“You should have discussed it with me before you set this in motion, though.” She met and held his gaze.
He wasn’t sure he agreed. Regardless of her opinion, he would have done what he thought was best. “Since it may impact your family, I should have kept you abreast of my actions.”
